Elastomeric bearing

Abstract

An elastomeric bearing, such as a hydraulically damping bearing for motor vehicles can have at least two fastening parts which are connected to one another by means of an elastomer spring. Such a bearing can also have a vertically acting hydraulic damping apparatus and at least one hydraulic damping apparatus acting in the horizontal direction, which damping apparatus essentially are chambers filled with damping fluid and connected to one another by damping passages. The chambers of the horizontally acting damping apparatus can be molded into the elastomer spring and disposed opposite to one another in the direction of damping, with at least one passage connecting the chambers. The chambers of the horizontally acting damping apparatus can be bordered by a separating part, and underneath the separating part there can be a second damping apparatus oriented in the direction of the Cz vertical coordinate axis. The chambers of the second damping apparatus can be located one above the other in the direction of the Cz coordinate axis and can be connected to one another by an additional connecting passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hydraulically damped elastomeric bearing for damping transmission of vibrations between a first object and a second object, said bearing comprising: first attachment means for attaching said bearing to the first object;   second attachment means for attaching said bearing to the second object;   means for connecting said first attachment means to said second attachment means;   said means for connecting comprising cavity means therein;   said bearing comprising within said cavity means: first hydraulic damping means for damping transmission of vibrations in a first direction; and   second hydraulic damping means for damping transmission of vibrations in a second direction;   said first hydraulic damping means being configured to be substantially independent from said second hydraulic damping means;   said second hydraulic damping means being configured to be substantially independent from said first hydraulic damping means; and   said first direction being disposed at a substantial angle from said second direction;     said first hydraulic damping means comprises: a first fluid chamber;   a second fluid chamber separate from said first fluid chamber;   damping fluid disposed within each of said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber; and   a first connecting passage fluidly connecting said first fluid chamber to said second fluid chamber for flow of damping fluid between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber;     said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber of said first hydraulic damping means being substantially aligned in said first direction; said second hydraulic damping means comprises: a third fluid chamber;     a fourth fluid chamber separate from said third fluid chamber;   damping fluid disposed within each of said third fluid chamber and said fourth fluid chamber; and   a second connecting passage fluidly connecting said third fluid chamber to said fourth fluid chamber for flow of damping fluid between said third fluid chamber and said fourth fluid chamber;     said third fluid chamber and said fourth fluid chamber of said second hydraulic damping means being substantially aligned in said second direction;   said bearing further comprises means for separating said first and second fluid chambers of said first hydraulic damping means from said third and fourth fluid chambers of said second hydraulic damping means;   said first direction and said second direction are disposed substantially perpendicularly to one another;   said bearing defines a bearing axis disposed along said second direction;   said first hydraulic damping means and said second damping means being substantially aligned along said bearing axis;   said means for connecting said first attachment means to said second attachment means comprises an elastomeric member disposed between at least a portion of said first attachment means and at least a portion of said second attachment means;   said elastomeric member comprises said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber of said first hydraulic damping means therein;   at least a portion of said second attachment means is disposed radially around said bearing axis forming an interior space within said second attachment means, said second attachment means comprising an interior surface disposed towards said interior space;   at least a portion of said first attachment means is disposed concentrically within said interior space of said second attachment means, said at least a portion of said first attachment means defining an exterior surface disposed towards said second attachment means;   said elastomeric member is disposed concentrically between said interior surface of said second attachment means and said exterior surface of said at least a portion of said first attachment means within said interior space of said second attachment means;   said at least a portion of said first attachment means disposed within said interior space has a first side portion and a second side portion disposed diametrically opposite one another in said first direction;   one of said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber of said first hydraulic damping means being disposed adjacent one each of said first side portion and said second side portion of said at least a portion of said first attachment means between said exterior surface of said at least a portion of said first attachment means and said interior surface of said second attachment means;   said at least a portion of said first attachment means disposed within said interior space further comprises a base portion extending from said first side portion to said second side portion;   said base portion comprises channel means therein extending from said first fluid chamber to said second fluid chamber of said first hydraulic damping means, said channel means forming at least a portion of said first connecting passage connecting said first fluid chamber to said second fluid chamber of said first hydraulic damping means;   said first fluid chamber, said second fluid chamber and said first connecting passage are open in the vicinity of the base portion of said at least a portion of said first attachment means within said interior space;   said means for separating comprises a first surface disposed towards said first hydraulic damping means, and a second surface disposed towards said second hydraulic damping means;   said base portion of said at least a portion of said first attachment means within said interior space is disposed in contact with said first surface of said means for separating;   said first surface of said means for separating defines at least a portion of each of said first fluid chamber, said second fluid chamber and said first connecting passage;   said third fluid chamber of said second hydraulic damping means is disposed adjacent said second surface of said means for separating;   said second connecting passage connecting said third fluid chamber to said fourth fluid chamber is disposed circumferentially about said bearing axis around at least a portion of said bearing;   said bearing further comprises partition means for separating said third fluid chamber and said fourth fluid chamber of said second hydraulic damping means;   said partition means comprises said second connecting passage connecting said third fluid chamber to said fourth fluid chamber;   at least one of: the first fluid chamber, the second fluid chamber, the third fluid chamber and the fourth fluid chamber additionally comprises a decoupling membrane;   said partition means further comprises said decoupling membrane, said decoupling membrane being disposed between said third fluid chamber and said fourth fluid chamber;   said fourth fluid chamber comprises a volume-compensating equalization chamber;   said first attachment means is movable axially within said second attachment means in a direction along said bearing axis   vertically, and said first direction disposed parallel to a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle; and   an engine bearing configured for being mounted in the motor vehicle to have said second direction disposed vertically, and said first direction disposed transverse to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle;   said pressure activated valve in said at least one bypass passage comprises an elastomeric flap;   said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber are molded into said elastomeric member;   said bearing has a periphery about said bearing axis and defined by said second attachment means, and said periphery of said bearing is one of: round; and   rectangular;     said bearing further comprises an expandable bellows disposed adjacent to, and spaced apart from said second surface of said partition means, said expandable bellows being expandable in a direction away from said partition means;   said second attachment means has a first end adjacent said first attachment means, and a second end opposite to said first attachment means;   said second end of second attachment means further comprises a protective cap spaced apart from said expandable bellows for protecting said expandable bellows and limiting expansion of said expandable bellows in said direction away from said partition means, said protective cap defining an air chamber between said protective cap and said expandable bellows;   said protective cap further comprises an opening therethrough for passage of air into and out of said air chamber for pressure equalization;   said second attachment means comprises a first peripheral wall portion defining said interior space and said protective cap, said protective cap extending away from said first peripheral wall portion;   said means for separating and said partition means each comprising a peripheral edge;   said peripheral edge of said means for separating comprising a rigid reinforcement for retaining a peripheral shape of said means for separating;   said second attachment means defining groove means between said peripheral wall portion and said protective cap adjacent said interior surface of said second attachment means;   said groove means for receiving said peripheral edge of each of said means for separating and said partition means therein;   said peripheral wall portion and said protective cap being configured to clamp said peripheral edge of each of said means for separating and said partition means therebetween in said groove means to fixedly retain said means for separating and said partition means within said bearing;   said protective cap further comprises a stepped portion, stepped inwardly towards said bearing axis adjacent said groove means;   said expandable bellows comprises a peripheral edge, and said stepped portion of said protective cap being configured to clamp said peripheral edge of said bellows between said peripheral cap and said partition means;   said partition means has a central portion disposed about said bearing axis, said central portion of said portion means having an opening therein, and said partition means comprising said decoupling membrane extending across said central opening;   said second connecting passage extends circumferentially about said decoupling membrane;   said first surface of said partition means comprises an opening connecting said third fluid chamber with said second connecting passage, and said second surface of said partition means comprises an opening connecting said fourth fluid chamber with said second connecting passage;   said means for separating additionally comprises a central portion and a peripheral portion disposed about said central portion, said peripheral portion comprising said peripheral edge and said stop means;   said central portion of said means for separating comprising a plate member;   said peripheral portion of said means for separating comprising an elastomer;   said plate member comprises a peripheral edge, and said peripheral edge of said plate member is embedded in said elastomer of said peripheral portion of said means for separating;   said peripheral portion of said means for separating being arcuate and extending from said peripheral edge away from said partition means to form said third fluid chamber between said means for separating and said partition means;   said plate member comprises said opening therethrough for passage of damping fluid between said first hydraulic damping means and said second hydraulic damping means;   said first connecting passage is configured as one of: a straight passage extending between said fluid chambers of said first hydraulic damping means; and   a curvilinear passage extending between said fluid chambers of said first hydraulic damping means;     said second attachment means comprises flange means extending away from said bearing axis, said flange means having bores therethrough for receiving fastening means therethrough to fasten said second attachment means to one of said first object and said second object;   said first attachment means comprises block means for being disposed within said interior space of said second attachment means; towards said partition means separating said third chamber from said fourth chamber;   said second surface of said means for separating comprises stop means for limiting movement of said first attachment means towards said partition means;   said damping bearing further comprising at least one fluid bypass passage disposed at at least one of: between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber in addition to said first connecting passage, and   between said third fluid chamber and said fourth fluid chamber in addition to said second connecting passage;     said at least one bypass passage comprises a pressure activated bypass valve configured to open under a predetermined fluid pressure differential between connected chambers;   said means for separating further includes an opening therethrough for passage of damping fluid between said first hydraulic damping means and said second hydraulic damping means, said opening having a cross-sectional dimension;   said first connecting passage having a cross-sectional dimension; and   said second connecting passage having a cross-sectional dimension;   said cross-sectional dimension of said opening being substantially less than said cross-sectional dimension of said first connecting passage and said cross-sectional dimension of said second connecting passage to substantially maintain said substantial independence of said first hydraulic damping means and said second hydraulic damping means.   
     
     
       2. The damping bearing according to claim 1, wherein: said bearing defines a third direction substantially perpendicular to each of said first direction and said second direction;   said bearing being configured to have a hard-thrust characteristic in said third direction, and a soft-thrust characteristic in said second direction.   
     
     
       3. The damping bearing according to claim 1, wherein: said bearing defines a third direction substantially perpendicular to said second direction, and disposed angularly with respect to said first direction;   said first hydraulic damping means additionally comprises: a fifth fluid chamber; and   a sixth fluid chamber separate from said fifth fluid chamber,     said fifth fluid chamber and said sixth fluid chamber being substantially aligned in said third direction.   
     
     
       4. The damping bearing according to claim 3, wherein said first connecting passage is further configured to fluidly interconnect each of said first fluid chamber, said second fluid chamber, said fifth fluid chamber and said sixth fluid chamber to provide soft damping in each of said first direction and said second direction. 
     
     
       5. The damping bearing according to claim 4, wherein: said bearing comprises one of: a chassis bearing configured for being mounted in a motor vehicle to have said second direction disposed     said first attachment means comprising an attachment surface disposed away from said base portion of said first attachment means;   said attachment surface comprising at least one threaded bore extending into said block means;   said at least one threaded bore being configured for receiving threaded bolt means therein to fasten said bearing to the other of said first object and said second object;   said first side portion and said second side portion of said first attachment means each comprise a side surface of said attachment means, said side surfaces of said first attachment means being disposed at an angle of about 82° with respect to said attachment surface;   said channel forming at least a portion of said first connecting passage comprises a bore through said first attachment means;   said elastomeric member disposed between said first attachment means and said second attachment means comprises an exterior surface disposed between said first attachment means and said second attachment means, said exterior surface comprising a groove disposed therein adjacent said interior surface of said second attachment means, said groove being configured for allowing expansion of said elastomeric member thereinto.